Rumor: 2024-2025 Trade Rumors and Free Agency Talk | The Slow Crawl to the Season

[ABasin]

Sigh

How many times does it has to be said, that the price for Colorado is not 14, it's something in the 12s. When the agent says they believe they could get 14M, that's on the UFA market with only 7 years. With the 8th year of the Avs, that equals 12.25M. This is just the way the contracts in the NHL work.

From what I've gathered from different insiders on podcasts and whatnot over the last 2 months, Rantanen is basically asking for something in the MacKinnon range. Not necessarely above him, but probably like 11.5 to 12.5. And the Avs have not even been willing to go to 11M. That's the holdup.

Meaning no disrespect whatsoever, that last paragraph is basically conjecture, as no one really knows what goes on behind the long-lasting Pierre Lacroix-created dark wall.

And I don't believe the bolded, as it doesn't make any sense. We have a back-to-back 100 point guy, who is well on his way to his third straight 100 pt season, and the Avs supposedly aren't willing to pay him 75% of what the open market would bear? That would be basically saying "We don't want the player, period".

Nah, not buying that.

 

[Bender]

Going to reply to myself, lol.

The guy actually has great Corsi and Fenwick stats and his PDO is beyond ridiculous: 92,9 5v5. Seems like he is deployed in rather offensive role as his 5v5 zone starts are 63,3% offensive zone and 27,7% defensive zone.

It's the first season in his career when he has more giveaways than takeaways. He (used?) to be a magician with his stick, is it still there? Is he just being unlucky, do his linemates suck or are we witnessing a huge drop off in his game (PDO is saying that he is at least being unlucky).

I wonder how he'd do in a 3C shutdown role here. Anyone watched him play lately?

He is injured week-to-week - I had him in my pool (last pick - Round 18) but dropped him to pick up Blackwood on Monday.

While he'd probably do really well as the Avs #3C, I don't see them adding him and his $4.5M contract for this year and the next 2 after that. Just like they never brought back Stastny, I could see Avs management say 'you wanted OUT, well F-U!' and prefer to pick up a guy like Jake Evans if they feel they truly need a #3C at the TDL. His $1.7M expiring contract is easily manageable.

They could also target a guy like Scott Laughton which I think would be a really great fit and would likely keep Colton on the wing. He's currently playing on the 4th line but that's a deal that would probably require retention from the flyers.

In a minor move, I can also see the Avs move Kylington for EJ at the TDL - if both are healthy and available but that's likely to depend on which OTHER move they make to shore up that bottom-pair LD position.

 

[AvsFan4]

Getting some good (and bad) info from Bednar on his weekly radio appearance. The bad part is what I’m doing my shitposting for. He just said “the reinforcements aren’t coming soon” but he did think Manson will be back soonest. He’s also been skating on his own while team on road trip. So that means both Drouin and Wood probs not back anytime soon. And with Kyper saying we’re looking hard for a Dman right now I think it should be for our third liner right?

Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Colton-Mittelstadt-Nichushkin

Damn solid top 6. Let Colton keep cooking on the wing. Obvi Colton is a better sign of depth being on the third line, but it’s also the reason he’s producing the way he is playing with skilled linemates. But this is where it gets a little poopy.

Kiviranta-Kelly-LOC
Smith-Ivan-Wagner

I’m just thinking it should be a forward that should be our higher priority at the moment than a defenseman. Cause idk about you but I’d rather not have Wagner and Smith in the lineup. Especially with De Haan playing well recently.

 

[Bender]

Getting some good (and bad) info from Bednar on his weekly radio appearance. The bad part is what I’m doing my shitposting for. He just said “the reinforcements aren’t coming soon” but he did think Manson will be back soonest. He’s also been skating on his own while team on road trip. So that means both Drouin and Wood probs not back anytime soon. And with Kyper saying we’re looking hard for a Dman right now I think it should be for our third liner right?

Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Colton-Mittelstadt-Nichushkin

Damn solid top 6. Let Colton keep cooking on the wing. Obvi Colton is a better sign of depth being on the third line, but it’s also the reason he’s producing the way he is playing with skilled linemates. But this is where it gets a little poopy.

Kiviranta-Kelly-LOC
Smith-Ivan-Wagner

I’m just thinking it should be a forward that should be our higher priority at the moment than a defenseman. Cause idk about you but I’d rather not have Wagner and Smith in the lineup. Especially with De Haan playing well recently.

Well unless the Avs are convinced that Drouin and Wood are cooked for the entire season, they shouldn't be making deals to replace them right now. Even if those guys are only coming back in a few months (which is pure speculation on my part) they are at least coming back at some point.

The one obvious and glaring hole is at LD behind Toews and Girard. Ideally, if you're making a trade you want someone solid enough that if one of your Top-4 go down, that player would be good enough to play up in the lineup and do a decent job replacing them. So not a guy who's only a bottom pairing guy, it's going to have to be a guy who's shown that he can handle more minutes at times.

 

[Alienblood]

So you get what. 2x40points guys who are passers and not goal scorers, 1 magic bean which might be in roster in 4 years since you cant instantly trade for a player since no cap.

Like I said, you pay him the 12,5mil and when the cap will go up, you still got th50 goal scorer. If the cap goes up 10+ mil in 3-4 years that contract will be bargain.

In what world is Koneckny a 40 point guy ?

Koneckny also has 15 goals

Edit: I'll also add he made 4.nations Canada

 

[Vaslof]

You’d think we would have learnt from the ROR trade to Buffalo. A young potential top 4 Dman, a player drafted 12th overall, a young potential top 6 forward and a pick.

None of those players lasted long with us and are all playing elsewhere. Meanwhile ROR has gone on to make an impact wherever he went. And he’s not half the player Rantanen is.

Or the Tkachuk trade. How’s that working out for Calgary?

If we were to even think of trading Rantanen we would have to get a stud 80 point forward, a young potential top 4 Dman, a top prospect and a top 10 pick.

Find me one situation where a team can offer that for Rantanen. It just won’t happen

Wouldn't Rantanen be the Huberdeau of that trade?

And yeah teams won't offer much for him. He's elevated by MacK and a 3rd liner at best without him.

 

[missionAvs]

Wouldn't Rantanen be the Huberdeau of that trade?

And yeah teams won't offer much for him. He's elevated by MacK and a 3rd liner at best without him.

Yeah that wasn't a very good example at all. We would be looking to acquire a "Tkachuk" like trade in order to replace Rants (Huberdeau). Those are not easy to find. Maybe Brady but I think Brady is overrated honestly.

That said, Rants is a top 10 forward in this league of his own accord with or without MacK. No way he's just a 3rd liner at best without him.

 

[LurkerMcgee]

Well I completely disagree with this. The one thing you can't do is let Rantanen walk, Avs aren't in a position to lose a player like Rants for nothing.

I'm not advocating trading Rants for a bunch of futures. Find a team that Rantanen would resign with (because he isn't going to walk away from the 8th year) and get some NHL quality assets back that improve the team's depth.

While I sort of agree and disagree…a monster blockbuster trade between two contenders is always interesting and fun to watch unfold. I’d still prefer to not see Mikko play anywhere but Colorado. I get the vibes of all talk by the agent. Mikko signs in Colorado for 12-12.5 for sure in my uneducated opinion.

 

[Jasenr]

Yeah that wasn't a very good example at all. We would be looking to acquire a "Tkachuk" like trade in order to replace Rants (Huberdeau). Those are not easy to find. Maybe Brady but I think Brady is overrated honestly.

That said, Rants is a top 10 forward in this league of his own accord with or without MacK. No way he's just a 3rd liner at best without him.

I think that was pure sarcasm.

And yeah you would have to trade Rantanen to Tampa for Kuch in order to have similar trade.

While I sort of agree and disagree…a monster blockbuster trade between two contenders is always interesting and fun to watch unfold. I’d still prefer to not see Mikko play anywhere but Colorado. I get the vibes of all talk by the agent. Mikko signs in Colorado for 12-12.5 for sure in my uneducated opinion.

If I know anything about finns Mikko is not concerned at all and just sits back and does what his supposed. Things will sort themselves out in the end. His spent what 8 years already here. It would take a mirracle for him to want to move.

 

[Alienblood]

You’d think we would have learnt from the ROR trade to Buffalo. A young potential top 4 Dman, a player drafted 12th overall, a young potential top 6 forward and a pick.

None of those players lasted long with us and are all playing elsewhere. Meanwhile ROR has gone on to make an impact wherever he went. And he’s not half the player Rantanen is.

Or the Tkachuk trade. How’s that working out for Calgary?

If we were to even think of trading Rantanen we would have to get a stud 80 point forward, a young potential top 4 Dman, a top prospect and a top 10 pick.

Find me one situation where a team can offer that for Rantanen. It just won’t happen

Huberdeau was the Rantanen of that trade not Tkachuk

 

[Gumballhead]

For the people who think Rantanen is so replaceable can you find me a player who will replace his 48 goal pace? Find me even two players who we would realistically trade for that can replace what Rantanen does?

I don’t get the hate in here. He’s a top 5 player in the LEAGUE and guys are ready to ship him out for futures.

I think it’s just frustration from all the dumb and lazy things he does, and it’s not going to change at this point- he is going to always be like this. He makes up for it in points and those are necessary for winning games, but he’s just one of those players where you yell at the screen half the time he’s on the ice and then he makes you forget with a snipe or a nice pass.

 

[Balthazar]

How is Draisaitl better? Kucherov? Sure. But not by much.

Regardless, there are 3 clear top tier guys in McDavid, Mackinnon and Makar then a few elite guys that are all pretty similar in Draisaitl, Rantanen, Kucherov, Pasternak, Point, Matthews.

That's ridiculous.

Matthews and Draisaitl are definitely better.

On the wing you have:

Tier 1: Kucherov and Kaprizov. These two can drive a first line from the wing.

Tier 2: Marner, Panarin, Tkachuk, Rantanen, Pastrnak. Everyone of those guys could be ahead of each other depending of what you're looking for, which is why they are in the same tier.

 

[The Merchant]

For the people who think Rantanen is so replaceable can you find me a player who will replace his 48 goal pace? Find me even two players who we would realistically trade for that can replace what Rantanen does?

I don’t get the hate in here. He’s a top 5 player in the LEAGUE and guys are ready to ship him out for futures.

Who's proposing he's shipped out for futures?

 

[The Abusement Park]

When he's on, and consistent he is. When he isn't he's floating around the 30ish best player.

I don't think Mikko ever really drops that low.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Who's proposing he's shipped out for futures?

Well that's all your going to get for him at this point for the most part. To get any major value you're going to have to do a sign and trade and that's going to be damn hard mid season....

 

[PAZ]

While I sort of agree and disagree…a monster blockbuster trade between two contenders is always interesting and fun to watch unfold. I’d still prefer to not see Mikko play anywhere but Colorado. I get the vibes of all talk by the agent. Mikko signs in Colorado for 12-12.5 for sure in my uneducated opinion.

Negotiations on his last contract wasn't smooth. I would also prefer him staying with the Avs, but it depends on how the current talks are going. If his ask is 8 x 14+ mil and he isn't budging even after discussing the extras like NMC, then you find out what trade options there are.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Sigh

How many times does it has to be said, that the price for Colorado is not 14, it's something in the 12s. When the agent says they believe they could get 14M, that's on the UFA market with only 7 years. With the 8th year of the Avs, that equals 12.25M. This is just the way the contracts in the NHL work.

From what I've gathered from different insiders on podcasts and whatnot over the last 2 months, Rantanen is basically asking for something in the MacKinnon range. Not necessarely above him, but probably like 11.5 to 12.5. And the Avs have not even been willing to go to 11M. That's the holdup.

I don't believe that. If the price was 12mil it would have been signed already. He is probably holding out for more than MacK because the cap going higher.

My guess. That's all.

12mil isn't unreasonable ask with the cap going up.

Mikko is going to Landeskog us and sign in the summer for 12.5

It wouldn't shock me. Negotiations with him hadn't been smooth but he seems to like the team and the place. He probably stays but it will be tough negotiation.

 

[shadow1]

Getting some good (and bad) info from Bednar on his weekly radio appearance. The bad part is what I’m doing my shitposting for. He just said “the reinforcements aren’t coming soon” but he did think Manson will be back soonest. He’s also been skating on his own while team on road trip. So that means both Drouin and Wood probs not back anytime soon. And with Kyper saying we’re looking hard for a Dman right now I think it should be for our third liner right?

Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Colton-Mittelstadt-Nichushkin

Damn solid top 6. Let Colton keep cooking on the wing. Obvi Colton is a better sign of depth being on the third line, but it’s also the reason he’s producing the way he is playing with skilled linemates. But this is where it gets a little poopy.

Kiviranta-Kelly-LOC
Smith-Ivan-Wagner

I’m just thinking it should be a forward that should be our higher priority at the moment than a defenseman. Cause idk about you but I’d rather not have Wagner and Smith in the lineup. Especially with De Haan playing well recently.

I believe Wood is month-to-month.

Colorado has always prioritized depth on defense over offense. And looking at the roster, I think the back end has a gaping hole.

Bednar flat-out won't play Ludvig, Kylington, and Malinski on the PK (<0:21), hence the surprise mid-season appearance of Middleton (1:44). With Malinski, you can live with that based on what else you get. Ludvig has all but earned himself a one-way ticket to Waiversville. Kylington started to turn the corner prior to his injury, but he's not the type of defenseman this group is missing. Middleton is a band-aid.

I know almost all of this is goaltending, but the Avalanche are 6th in GF, 30th in GA, and 24th on the PK (75%). Career backup Scott Wedgewood has posted Dominic Hasek numbers since arriving, proving how bad the previous netminding really was. But that's not to say the Avalanche are infallible defensively, with the recent Carolina pounding being Exhibit A.

By comparison, things are rolling up front. The top-6 has been great, as has the Kelly line, partially due to a revitalized O'Connor. The 4th line is yucky, but a lot of fourth lines are. Ivan is a good player and a Swiss army knife. Wagner is a total zero offensively, but Bednar trusts him to PK/defensively. Smith accelerates like a locomotive, but he's been a liked player on his previous teams and gives the club an enforcer who can pot an occasional goal. The big difference between the offense and defense is that Smith and Wagner are only playing due to Drouin and Wood being out. No matter how you slice the defense, the best/healthiest possible group has de Haan (or one of the other aforementioned players) in it.

My guess is the Avs add a defensive-minded lefty soon(ish), with both Ludvig and Kylington jettisoned off the roster. That bumps de Haan down to the #7 role...which of course means he'll be in the lineup every night because the Avalanche are allergic to staying healthy. Up front, I think the team sees how things shake out when Drouin and Wood return and strike closer to the deadline. They absolutely need another center, but that has been a constant need for them.

Just my $0.02. Sorry for the novella.

 

[GoNordiquesGo]

From what I've gathered from different insiders on podcasts and whatnot over the last 2 months, Rantanen is basically asking for something in the MacKinnon range. Not necessarely above him, but probably like 11.5 to 12.5. And the Avs have not even been willing to go to 11M. That's the holdup.

Is this really from numerous insiders, or its more from you ? Honest question. Because I never heard that the Avs were offering less than $11M... That's very low based on reasonable comparables, so it would be very surprising. bordering impossible... Anything below $12M would be viewed as a bargain. Something starting with a $10M would be quite baffling... Just like something in excess of $14M would be.

 

[niwotsblessing]

I think it’s just frustration from all the dumb and lazy things he does, and it’s not going to change at this point- he is going to always be like this. He makes up for it in points and those are necessary for winning games, but he’s just one of those players where you yell at the screen half the time he’s on the ice and then he makes you forget with a snipe or a nice pass.

This. Moose benefits from the players around him.

First goal last night Lehkonen gets the puck in the neutral zone, skates all the way behind the Pens goal and finds Makar. Cale slips a subtle yet top shelf pas over to Mikko who gets lucky and bounces the puck over Jerry's leg. Sure, Moose gets the goal but Lehkonen made it happen through his hard work. When was the last time Rants had the puck on his stick for 20 seconds?

Second goal last night is one of those plays he'll make where for 3 seconds he looks like the best RW in the NHL. Gets a savvy pass from DeHaan (who seems to be better of late) and snipes it past Jarry (who was not holding his post).

Third goal was an empty netter because Nate got him the puck to get the hatty.

12 mil? 13 mil? 14 mil?

For that money I'd take another Lehkonen, a player that has skills and works hard on every shift + a good D-Man (Manson replacement). And we'd have money left over to put towards resigning Blackwood after he wins the Cup.

 

[avsfan2189]

not a trade proposal but more on the discussion of having rants vs depth.

I'd rather the combined salaries and players of Cirelli + Hagel on this time vs just 1 rantanen and his new 2025 salary

Vegas and Florida and even Dallas' success of late shows u dont need a winger like Rants to win a cup

drouin - mack - nuke
hagel - mitts - cirelli
lehks - colton - LOC

wow

 

[Jasenr]

This. Moose benefits from the players around him.

First goal last night Lehkonen gets the puck in the neutral zone, skates all the way behind the Pens goal and finds Makar. Cale slips a subtle yet top shelf pas over to Mikko who gets lucky and bounces the puck over Jerry's leg. Sure, Moose gets the goal but Lehkonen made it happen through his hard work. When was the last time Rants had the puck on his stick for 20 seconds?

Second goal last night is one of those plays he'll make where for 3 seconds he looks like the best RW in the NHL. Gets a savvy pass from DeHaan (who seems to be better of late) and snipes it past Jarry (who was not holding his post).

Third goal was an empty netter because Nate got him the puck to get the hatty.

12 mil? 13 mil? 14 mil?

For that money I'd take another Lehkonen, a player that has skills and works hard on every shift + a good D-Man (Manson replacement). And we'd have money left over to put towards resigning Blackwood after he wins the Cup.

Youre missing the point that those goals propably doesnt happen without him and Avs would barely win the game against bad Pens team. Now its a blowout. Also he did make a great pass to Lehky on the slot.

Yes you can have 4 great engines like Lehke but you aint getting all the goals which I still think matters in this game.

So pick your poison.

 

[BobRossColton]

Thoughts about Lucas Raymond+higher D prospects for Mikko?

 

[Pokecheque]

Thoughts about Lucas Raymond+higher D prospects for Mikko?

Not going to even consider the possibility of Mikko wearing the Winged Wheel

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Here's the thing, Rantanen is a huge part of this team's offense, and his production will be hard to replace.

However, we won the Cup with depth, and Rants making more than 12M puts a stranglehold on that. So it's quite the dilemma